CVE-2026-72140 i2c: mlxbf: Fix use-after-free in mlxbf_i2c_init_resource()
A use-after-free in the Linux kernel's BlueField I2C driver allows local attackers to potentially execute code or crash the system.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-72140?
CVE-2026-72140 is an use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 15 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
i2c: mlxbf: Fix use-after-free in mlxbf_i2c_init_resource()
If devm_platform_get_and_ioremap_resource() returns an error, mlxbf_i2c_init_resource() frees tmp_res before reading tmp_res->io to get the error code. This results in a use-after-free.
Save the error code before freeing tmp_res.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-72140?
How do I fix CVE-2026-72140?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2026-72140 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-72140 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2026-72140, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-72140, GHSA-4pv3-vvp3-4j57, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-72140.